Warm winter comes as a blessing for workers at Zojila tunnel project
Srinagar, January 18
Workers consistently toil on the construction site of the Zojila Tunnel, situated at an altitude of 11,578 feet. The unusually warm winter and an extended dry season this year provided a favourable environment to continue their work on strategically important 14.15-kilometre-long tunnel. Once completed, the Zojila tunnel will link Kargil and Ladakh and establish a year-round connection to the Ladakh region. It is the highest tunnel in the Himalayas and is expected to be completed by 2028.
“In the last winter, our entire project suffered for two months and this season due to the absence of the snow, the work is going unhindered,” said project manager Harpal Singh. He said 1,100 people are currently deployed for construction of the tunnel.
“If we compare the past three winter seasons with the current season, it is much easier to work at present. In the past three winter seasons, due to heavy snowfall followed by snow blizzards and snow storms, it was difficult to transport people, provide heating arrangement, and hot water,” he said.
Last year, two deadly snow avalanches not only stopped the work but over 1,000 workers were sent out of the area by the construction company, Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd. (MEIL) for safety reasons. MEIL was awarded the contract for the construction of the Zojila Tunnel on October 1, 2020, and the work began in April 2021.
The tunnel at the highest altitude, once completed, will reduce the crossing time of the Zojila pass from four hours to a mere 15 minutes, ensuring year-round accessibility to Ladakh.
Singh said in Zojila problem is not the snowfall but constant snow blizzards. “They are very dangerous even for skin. People lose even their way during those blizzards. This year we didn’t face such challenges,” he added.
“Usually we don’t mind any amount of snowfall and continue to work even in sub-zero temperatures as we are doing at present. If there is one meter or two meters of snow, we clear it with our snow clearance machines and move towards the station. Our issue is snowstorms and also snow avalanches after snowfall,” he said.
“Even in minus temperature, the tunnel temperature remains normal and workers carry on their work inside the tunnel,” the project manager said. “Once the shift changes, we transport them to the workstation camp, which already has all the facilities for their stay,” he adds. He says that some work is temporarily halted due to the closure of the national highway. “The national highway is currently open, and we hope that the impact of Chilla Kalan (harsh winter conditions) is about to wean away,” he says.
“So, I am happy with the current weather condition,” said Singh.
